La Junta cross country team has new coach

The La Junta High School cross country program will have a new coach this season as longtime coach Bruce Vining retired at the end of the last academic year.

But the new coach is no stranger to the program as Shawn Borton takes over.

"I helped coach Vining out for five years, so I'm used to what he does," Borton said. "However, I've changed a few things. But I have been in contact with him for the past couple of weeks trying to remember everything he does. But other than that, it's been good. The kids know the routine and I know all of the kids, so it's not like it's too new."

The LJ boys' cross country team will be very experienced this year.

"They look pretty good," Borton said. "Gage Mayo I think is going to be one of our solid runners. Chuck Aaron looked really good and he ran all summer with us. Dakota Braswell didn't do a whole lot of summer running, but he showed well at our scrimmage at Rocky Ford. Jake King came out for us and he's going to be a good addition. Vincent Gearhart is also out this year. They're a really fun group of kids."

The girls' team is not as experienced.

"We have Faith Craig and Torrey Davis from last year," Borton said. "Then we have Monee Crosswhite and Erica Lopez from Las Animas. Once again, they're a good group of girls who work hard. Everybody but Torrey is new, but it's a good thing."

The season gets under way on Saturday as the Tigers and Lady Tigers will compete at the Rocky Ford Invitational at Babcock Park. The first race begins at 9 a.m.

"We're one meet less than last year, but I did that because we had meets that were back-to-back last year," Borton said. "I don't like doing that to kids. It's kind of hard to ask a kid to run 100 percent two days in a row."

The goal for the cross country team is to get back to the state meet after not going for the past few years.

"We would like to get as many as possible to state," Borton said. "Last year, we missed out by literally inches with Dakota. But I think Dakota, Chuck, Gage and some of the others have a good shot. They're very positive, so that's a big part of it."